Pruning implement.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. BOENKER AND WILLIAM D. SCHONE, OF ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY H. BOENKER and VILLIAM D. SoHoNE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at St. Charles, in the county of St. Charlesand State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Pruning Implements, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention provides an implement of novel constructionintended more particularly for trimming trees, said implement comprisinga pole or staff having a saw and cutting blade at its upper end, saidsaw being adjustable so as to be turned to any angle with reference tothe pole to enable branches or limbs of trees to be readily reached andout without binding the blade.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

WVhile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an implement embodying the invention, thedotted lines showing an adjusted position of the saw. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section on the line a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transversesection on the line yy of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view ofa portion of the saw frame and the adjacent end of the pole or staff,the parts being separated.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin descriptionand indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The implement comprises a pole or staff 1. Plates 2 are secured toopposite sides of an end portion of the pole and project a shortdistance beyond the same to receive the pivoted end of the saw frame. Awasher 3 is provided upon the inner side of an end portion of one of theplates 2 and is provided with a circular series of teeth 4:. The outerside of the washer 3 is channeled to form a seat in which the projectingend of the plate 2 sustaining said washer, is fitted. The washer 3 maybe secured to its supporting plate in any manner and is preventedSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 420,996.

from turning by the shoulders at opposite sides of the channel or seatengaging with opposite edge portions of the plate. The n'ojecting endsof the plates 2 are apertured to receive a bolt or fastening 5 by meansof which the saw frame is secured to the projecting ends of the platesin the required adjusted position.

The saw frame 6 is approximately of bowform. The inner end 7 of the sawframe is approximately of U-form, the side members being connected bymeans of a plate 8 which is secured by rivets or in any manner at itsends thereto. The plate 8 performs the double oflice of connecting theside members of the end 7, as also providing a support for a washer 9,which is similar in formation to the washer One face of the washer 9 isprovided with a circular series of teeth 10 to match the teeth l of thewasher 3, and the opposite face of said washer is channeled to form aseat in which the plate 8 is fitted. The washer 9 may be secured to theplate 8 in any manner so as to prevent displacement.

The shoulders at opposite sides of the channel or seat engaging withopposite edges of the plate 8, prevent turning of the washer 9 when theimplement is in operation. The washer 9 and plate 8 are apertured toreceive the bolt or fastening 5. When the parts are assembled, the end 7of the saw frame is thrust between the projecting ends of the plates 2,and the washers 3 and 9 lie along side each other with their teeth 41and 10 in mesh, thereby preventing possible displacement of the sawframe after the bolt 5 has been tightened. The saw blade 11 is connectedat one end to the extremity of the free member of the U-shaped end 7 ofthe saw frame, and the opposite end of said saw blade is connected to arod 12 which passes loosely through an eye 18 at the outer end of thesaw frame 6, the projecting end of the rod 12 being threaded andreceiving a thumb nut let by means of which the saw blade 11 issubjected to proper tension. A blade is secured to the outer end of thesaw frame 6 and its projecting edges are sharpened to form cutters. Theblade 15 is secured to the outer corner of the saw frame, therebyserving to stiffen the same at the bend and also coming in line with themain portion of the saw frame so as to withstand the thrust incident tothe use of the implement when lop-' ping off branches of trees whentrimming or pruning the same.

The projecting-ends of the plates 2' are normally sprung apart adistance to admit of the inner end of the saw frame being placed inposition and also of the washers 3 and 9 separating to cause theirtoothed portions to clear one another when the bolt or fastening 5 isloosened, as when changing the inclination of the saw with reference tothe pole or staff. Upon tightening the bolt or fastening 5, theprojecting ends of the plates 2 are drawn together, thereby causing theteeth 4 and 10 of the companion washers to interlock and secure the sawin the required angular position.

When trimming a tree, it may be of advantage to change the inclinationof the saw either-to avoid branches or to prevent binding of the saw,and this may be readily effected by loosening the bolt 5 and turning thesaw frame thereon to the required posi tion,'after which a retighteningof the bolt 5 secures the saw so that the desired work may beeffectively and conveniently carried out.

Having thus described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. I11 an implement of the character specified, the combination of apole provided with spaced extensions, a saw frame having its inner endof approximately U-form and placed "between said spaced extensions, aplate connecting the members of said inner end of the saw frame, awasher fitted to said plate and toothed upon one side, a companionwasher fitted to the spaced extension and washer recessed in one side ofthe saw frame to receive the said plate and having its other sidetoothed, a second washerrecessed in one side to receive one of saidspaced extensions and toothed upon the other side to match and cooperatewith the tooth of the first mentioned washer, and a fastening passedthrough the spaced extensions and washers and the aforesaid plate tosecure all together and to holdthe saw frame in a relatively adjustedposition. In testimony whereof we affix our'signatures in presence oftwo witnesses HENRY H. BQENKER. 1.8. WILLIAM n. SCHONE. [14.3.]Witnesses PETER Ann,

ERNST SCHNEDLER.

